CEFP STUDY GUIDE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025/2026 RATED A+
1. Request for Design Services - CORRECT ANSWER -Should include a clear statement of the
project's objectives and programmatic requirements, including environmental
requirements, functional requirements, and aesthetic requirements.
2. Site Development - CORRECT ANSWER -Refers to designed physical improvements or
modifications to the campus landscape, excluding utilities and buildings.
3. Geographic Information Systems - CORRECT ANSWER -Computer system designed to
capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of
spatial/infrastructure or geographic data.
4. Built Environment - CORRECT ANSWER -Existing infrastructure, roads, parking lots,
buildings, and other site structures and systems.
5. Computer Aided Design (CAD) - CORRECT ANSWER -Computer system used to assist in
the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design or space.
6. Non-Assignable Square Feet (NASF) - CORRECT ANSWER -Refers to spaces that are
necessary for the general operation of a building. Many spaces are shared and cannot be
considered assignable.
7. Gross Square Feet (GSF) - CORRECT ANSWER -Refers to the total amount of space that
makes up a building, including the assignable and non-assignable space.
8. Space Efficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Measures the occupancy rate a space has when it
is in use. Used when determining instructional or laboratory space needs or when
measuring how well current spaces are being occupied.
,9. Space Utilization - CORRECT ANSWER -Measure of how often a space is used during a
given period. It can be measured by total hours of use or as a percentage of use during a
specified time frame.
10. Net Square Feet (NSF) - CORRECT ANSWER -Refers to both assignable and non-
assignable space. Typically, this is the total space dedicated to a specific use or owner.
11. Payment Bonds - CORRECT ANSWER -Ensures that workers, subcontractors, and
suppliers will be paid for their work in connection with the project.
12. Design Standards - CORRECT ANSWER -An owner's clear and concise set of architectural
and engineering guidelines. Such guidelines should set forth what elements are essential
to making a new or newly renovated building match the owner's requirements.
13. Gantt Chart - CORRECT ANSWER -Presents a list of tasks along the left side of the chart
with horizontal bars indicating scheduled start and finish dates for each task.
14. Mediation - CORRECT ANSWER -Involves an independent third party helping guide the
owner and contractor in negotiating their differences.
15. Milestone Chart - CORRECT ANSWER -This method consists of identifying a target
completion date for each activity or phase. For short projects with few participants, this
chart type works well.
16. Post-Secondary Education Facilities Inventory and Classification Manual (FICM) -
CORRECT ANSWER -Established a series of codes for a variety of higher education uses,
including space classifications. Has both numeric and descriptive classifications which is
useful for database management and reporting of space usage.
,17. Space Planning Guidelines - CORRECT ANSWER -Specifies the aggregate square footage
appropriate for each type of institutional space and serves as a guide both in planning
for new space and assessing the efficiency of existing space distribution.
18. Space Components - CORRECT ANSWER -Consists of amount or quantity of the existing
space; condition or quality of the space; effectiveness or functionality of the space;
location of the space and cyberspace.
19. Room Use Codes/Categories - CORRECT ANSWER -Spaces are coded or classified in
numerous categories in order to manage current use or plan for new/adaptable space.
Categories are based upon the current activity in a room and not necessarily on the
room's original design layout.
20. Assignable Square Feet (ASF) - CORRECT ANSWER -Refers to the amount of space that
may be used for programs within interior walls of a room. It is commonly referred to as
the usable or needed space for programs to operate.
21. Facilities Condition Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -Continuous systematic approach to
identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and maintaining the specific maintenance, repair,
renewal, and replacement requirements for all facility assets.
22. Strategic Captial Development Model - CORRECT ANSWER -Instead of periodic and
stand-alone studies of elements of the capital needs of an institution, this model defines
six phases of an integrated and comprehensive (soup-to-nuts) planning process.
23. Deferred Maintenance (DM) Backlog - CORRECT ANSWER -Total dollar amount of
existing maintenance repairs and required replacements (capital renewal) that were not
accomplished when they should have been, not funded in the current fiscal year, or
otherwise deferred.
, 24. Facilities Condition Index (FCI Index) - CORRECT ANSWER -A comparative industry
indicator/benchmark used to indicate the relative physical condition of a facility, group
of buildings, or entire portfolio "independent" of building type, construction type,
location, or cost.
25. Captial Renewal/Replacement - CORRECT ANSWER -A systematic management process
of planning and budgeting for known future cyclical repair and replacement
requirements that extend the life and retain the usable condition of facilities and
systems, not normally contained in the annual operating budget. Includes major
activities that have a maintenance cycle in excess of one year. (Replace roofs, paint
buildings, resurface roads).
26. Probability - CORRECT ANSWER -A risk is an event that "may" occur. The probability of it
occurring can range anywhere from just above 0 percent to just below 100 percent.
27. Alteration - CORRECT ANSWER -Construction or renovation to an existing structure
rather than a repair or addition.
28. Repair - CORRECT ANSWER -Reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building
for the purpose of maintaining it.
29. Easement - CORRECT ANSWER -Also known as deeded rights-of-way, involving the long-
term or permanent conveyance between parties of certain rights, privileges, and
interests in property.
30. Ground Lease - CORRECT ANSWER -A lease of extended duration that is frequently
structured to allow the construction of improvements by the lessee on an institution's
land.
31. Restoration - CORRECT ANSWER -The process of accurately reconstructing or repairing
the forms and details of a building or structure or portion thereof as it appeared at a
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025/2026 RATED A+
1. Request for Design Services - CORRECT ANSWER -Should include a clear statement of the
project's objectives and programmatic requirements, including environmental
requirements, functional requirements, and aesthetic requirements.
2. Site Development - CORRECT ANSWER -Refers to designed physical improvements or
modifications to the campus landscape, excluding utilities and buildings.
3. Geographic Information Systems - CORRECT ANSWER -Computer system designed to
capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of
spatial/infrastructure or geographic data.
4. Built Environment - CORRECT ANSWER -Existing infrastructure, roads, parking lots,
buildings, and other site structures and systems.
5. Computer Aided Design (CAD) - CORRECT ANSWER -Computer system used to assist in
the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design or space.
6. Non-Assignable Square Feet (NASF) - CORRECT ANSWER -Refers to spaces that are
necessary for the general operation of a building. Many spaces are shared and cannot be
considered assignable.
7. Gross Square Feet (GSF) - CORRECT ANSWER -Refers to the total amount of space that
makes up a building, including the assignable and non-assignable space.
8. Space Efficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Measures the occupancy rate a space has when it
is in use. Used when determining instructional or laboratory space needs or when
measuring how well current spaces are being occupied.
,9. Space Utilization - CORRECT ANSWER -Measure of how often a space is used during a
given period. It can be measured by total hours of use or as a percentage of use during a
specified time frame.
10. Net Square Feet (NSF) - CORRECT ANSWER -Refers to both assignable and non-
assignable space. Typically, this is the total space dedicated to a specific use or owner.
11. Payment Bonds - CORRECT ANSWER -Ensures that workers, subcontractors, and
suppliers will be paid for their work in connection with the project.
12. Design Standards - CORRECT ANSWER -An owner's clear and concise set of architectural
and engineering guidelines. Such guidelines should set forth what elements are essential
to making a new or newly renovated building match the owner's requirements.
13. Gantt Chart - CORRECT ANSWER -Presents a list of tasks along the left side of the chart
with horizontal bars indicating scheduled start and finish dates for each task.
14. Mediation - CORRECT ANSWER -Involves an independent third party helping guide the
owner and contractor in negotiating their differences.
15. Milestone Chart - CORRECT ANSWER -This method consists of identifying a target
completion date for each activity or phase. For short projects with few participants, this
chart type works well.
16. Post-Secondary Education Facilities Inventory and Classification Manual (FICM) -
CORRECT ANSWER -Established a series of codes for a variety of higher education uses,
including space classifications. Has both numeric and descriptive classifications which is
useful for database management and reporting of space usage.
,17. Space Planning Guidelines - CORRECT ANSWER -Specifies the aggregate square footage
appropriate for each type of institutional space and serves as a guide both in planning
for new space and assessing the efficiency of existing space distribution.
18. Space Components - CORRECT ANSWER -Consists of amount or quantity of the existing
space; condition or quality of the space; effectiveness or functionality of the space;
location of the space and cyberspace.
19. Room Use Codes/Categories - CORRECT ANSWER -Spaces are coded or classified in
numerous categories in order to manage current use or plan for new/adaptable space.
Categories are based upon the current activity in a room and not necessarily on the
room's original design layout.
20. Assignable Square Feet (ASF) - CORRECT ANSWER -Refers to the amount of space that
may be used for programs within interior walls of a room. It is commonly referred to as
the usable or needed space for programs to operate.
21. Facilities Condition Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -Continuous systematic approach to
identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and maintaining the specific maintenance, repair,
renewal, and replacement requirements for all facility assets.
22. Strategic Captial Development Model - CORRECT ANSWER -Instead of periodic and
stand-alone studies of elements of the capital needs of an institution, this model defines
six phases of an integrated and comprehensive (soup-to-nuts) planning process.
23. Deferred Maintenance (DM) Backlog - CORRECT ANSWER -Total dollar amount of
existing maintenance repairs and required replacements (capital renewal) that were not
accomplished when they should have been, not funded in the current fiscal year, or
otherwise deferred.
, 24. Facilities Condition Index (FCI Index) - CORRECT ANSWER -A comparative industry
indicator/benchmark used to indicate the relative physical condition of a facility, group
of buildings, or entire portfolio "independent" of building type, construction type,
location, or cost.
25. Captial Renewal/Replacement - CORRECT ANSWER -A systematic management process
of planning and budgeting for known future cyclical repair and replacement
requirements that extend the life and retain the usable condition of facilities and
systems, not normally contained in the annual operating budget. Includes major
activities that have a maintenance cycle in excess of one year. (Replace roofs, paint
buildings, resurface roads).
26. Probability - CORRECT ANSWER -A risk is an event that "may" occur. The probability of it
occurring can range anywhere from just above 0 percent to just below 100 percent.
27. Alteration - CORRECT ANSWER -Construction or renovation to an existing structure
rather than a repair or addition.
28. Repair - CORRECT ANSWER -Reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building
for the purpose of maintaining it.
29. Easement - CORRECT ANSWER -Also known as deeded rights-of-way, involving the long-
term or permanent conveyance between parties of certain rights, privileges, and
interests in property.
30. Ground Lease - CORRECT ANSWER -A lease of extended duration that is frequently
structured to allow the construction of improvements by the lessee on an institution's
land.
31. Restoration - CORRECT ANSWER -The process of accurately reconstructing or repairing
the forms and details of a building or structure or portion thereof as it appeared at a
